(JNS.org) The first haredi female judge in U.S. history, Rachel Freier, was sworn into office during a recent ceremony in New York.

Freier, an attorney and mother of six, was elected to the New York State Civil Court, defeating two opponents in the Sept. 13 primary election. The swearing-in ceremony was held at Brooklyn Borough Hall Dec. 22 and attended by her parents, husband, children, grandchildren and uncle, former Judge David Schmidt, who inducted her into the court.

Freier started the all-female volunteer ambulance corps Ezrat Nashim, where she is a volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT).